IRVING, TX— Wilcox Hospitality Group has picked up its second lodging property— and its second here in the Lone Star State— with the acquisition of the 134-room Days Inn at DFW Airport from a small investment group said to be led by Don Dreiske. In a deal brokered by Horwath Hospitality, Christopher Morrow— senior vp of the Cawley/Wilcox Cos. subsidiary— said it took just 45 days to acquire (at an unspecified price) this limited-service property on State Highway 114 and Esters Boulevard. It was noted Dallas-based Mercantile Bank & Trust provided financing for the transaction. Morrow told HOTEL BUSINESS® Arlington, TX-based management firm DePalma Hotel Corp. has been named to operate the property, which is expected to retain its Days Inn brand affiliation. The year-old Wilcox Hospitality Group also owns the 282-room Green Oaks Hotel in Fort Worth, which it reportedly purchased last August. As for future expansion plans, Morrow maintained the company currently has offers out on properties in California, Florida, Chicago and—perhaps not surprisingly— in several other Texas locations. In line with the organization’s usual practice, he contended Wilcox Hospitality Group would most likely be using a considerable amount of its own money as well as equity raised through high net worth individuals for property purchases going forward.—Michael Billig
